China’s VR Winter will give way to spring

3Q 2017
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IN-4680

Last month, I had the privilege of keynoting the “Global VR conference” in Shanghai. It was a great chance to speak with VR leaders from around the world, but especially from those within the China VR community to understand the unique opportunities and challenges within the Chinese domestic market.
One of the most interesting conversations I had a couple of times at the event, and MWC Asia which followed, was if the “VR winter” was being experienced outside China. I came to learn that 2016 was a year of very strong and easy funding for VR companies, and now the bar has been set a bit higher in terms of expecting more clear outcomes to fund companies. It appears that some companies are closing up shop due to a lack of customers and/or a lack of follow-on funding, even as the market remains open with experimentation.